Convenient Spool Holder and filament guide for Prusa i3 mk2

thingiverse

Having received a large 2Kg spool that is 20 cm wide, I added a larger version of the filament guide. A long threaded rod is then needed to secure the axis. I made a new axis with a smaller diameter to roll smoother on the arms. The file for this design is "Spool Holder v4 - Axis.stl". To accommodate users who need sources for the thing, I added the 123D Design source file. The full print is possible on a Prusa i3 MK2 with a heatbed of 250 x 210 mm. However, if you are using a heatbed that measures 200 x 200 mm, multiple prints from individual STL files will be necessary. All new files have been labeled with version 3.25. To reduce stress on the filament when the extruder is at the top Z position, I made some modifications to the initial design. These changes include longer arms and a bigger hole in the filament guide, as well as a reversible mounting system that allows for two positions: one with a 5 mm higher position and another with a 5 mm lower position. This results in a more stable filament guide at high extruder positions. Having a Prusa i3 mk2 printer, I encountered issues with the wide heatbed (250 mm) causing the filament to sometimes fall off the spool when the extruder is positioned on the very side, especially with new filament spools. To address this problem, I modified my initial spool holder design to include a filament guide that prevents the filament from being pulled out of the spool. Additionally, I refined the design to make it easier to change the spool. The new version includes: A filament guide that prevents the filament from sliding along the side of the spool. An easier spool change process, requiring no screws on the side; simply pull the cylinder, replace the spool, and put it back in place. Automatic centering of the spool due to the unique cylinder profile. Large generic spool support for spools up to 140 mm wide. The design is easy to print, with all parts printing on a single standard 200 x 200 mm heatbed. This design is specifically tailored for Prusa i3 mk2 printers but can be used on any 6mm frame printer. Simply add a 200 mm M8 threaded pole in the cylinder and optionally use two bolts to secure it in place. If you do not have a threaded rod, I included a printable axis that can be used as an alternative (although I have not tested this option yet). This is my initial design, with tests so far showing positive results; however, I will likely make some additional fine-tuning adjustments later and add a version for M6 threaded poles.